The Olympics

The Olympics, an American doo-wop group, were formed in 1957 in Los Angeles, California. The original lineup included lead singer Walter Ward, Eddie Lewis, Charles Fizer, Walter Hammond, and Melvin King. Their first single was released under the name Walter Ward and the Challengers, "I Can Tell", on Melatone Records. After changing their name, they released "Western Movies" in 1958, which reached number eight on the Billboard Hot 100 chart. The song embodied the nation's fascination with Western-themed movies and television programs. In 1959, they recorded "(Baby) Hully Gully", kickstarting the Hully Gully dance craze. Over the next decade, The Olympics released lively R&B songs often about the latest dance trends of the time, including "Big Boy Pete" in 1960 and "Good Lovin'" in 1965. In 1984, Rhino Records put out the LP The Official Record Album of The Olympics, capturing some of the group's recordings from the 1950s and 1960s. Despite legal challenges, the album was a significant milestone for the group. Walter Ward passed away on 11 December 2006. Eddie Lewis, the last original member, died on 31 May 2017. The remaining members of The Olympics went on to perform on the oldies circuit in the US and elsewhere.

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